Knockdown kite

ABSTRACT

A knockdown kite formed of connectors having sockets with rods detachably secured to sockets to form a generally cross-shaped framework for the kite, and a flexible covering over the framework with the covering extending between the wings of the framework of a greater width than the width of the framework forming the wings so that when the kite is in flight the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside of the laterally extending wings, with the air passing laterally outwardly of the opposite ends of the wings to facilitate the flying of the kite and to sustain the kite in flight.

United States Patent 1 Kupperman et al.

11] 3,856,241 Dec. 24, 1974 KNOCKDOWN KITE [75] Inventors: Sam Kupperman; Dennis I.

Kupperman, both of Skokie, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 14, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369,890

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1935 Talmadge 244/154 l/I950 Tomczyk et al. 244/154 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 945,738 France 244/154 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max R. Kraus [5 7 ABSTRACT A knockdown kite formed of connectors having sockets with rods detachably secured to sockets to form a generally cross-shaped framework for the kite, and a flexible covering over the framework with the covering extending between the wings of the framework of a greater width than the width of the framework forming the wings so that when the kite is in flight the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside of the laterally extending wings, with the air passing laterally outwardly of the opposite ends of the wings to facilitate the flying of the kite and to sustain the kite in flight.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 OF 2 KNOCKDOWN KITE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is to provide a kite which may be inexpensively formed of components so that it may be shipped in a knockdown condition to occupy a minimum of space and which may be readily and easily assembled by a child to form a kite having the ability to fly very easily and in sustained flight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a knockdown kite in which the covering that extends between the front and rear of the framework forming the wings of the kite has a width greater than the distance between the framework so that as the kite is in flight the wing covering will billow upwardly and form a pocket in the underside of each wing so that the air currents will tend to lift the kite and in which the flow of the air will be laterally around the open ends of said wings as well as upwardly of the ends of the wings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the kite assembled and looking at same in the position that the kite is flown.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the covering before it is assembled to the framework of the kite; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the parts forming the framework of the kite.

The knockdown kite is formed of a plurality of components which may be shipped disassembled and comprises essentially rods and connectors and includes a flexible polyethylene covering, all of which occupies very little space in a container and is light in weight. The construction is so simple that it may be easily and readily assembled by a child to form a kite having a substantial wing spread and of a size to form a kite having great air lift so that it can be air-borne very readily. The covering between the spaced laterally extending wing rods is greater in width than the space between the front and rear of said laterally extending rods so that the covering billows upwardly to form pockets in the underside of the wings. These pockets have their outer ends open and said pockets provide the lift for the kite as well as help to sustain the kite in flight as the air passes under the pockets and laterally outward of said pockets exteriorly of the exterior ends of said wings.

The framework of the kite generally designated at includes a front connector generally designated at 12 and a rear connector generally designated at 14, both being of identical construction except that the front connector faces forwardly and the other connector rearwardly. Since both connectors are identical a description of one will suffice. The connector is integrally molded to provide a generally L-shaped configuration in transverse section having a vertical wall 16 and a bottom wall 18 which slopes downwardly from the opposite ends toward the center in a wide V- configuration. The connector is also formed with a plurality of tubular sockets, namely, a central socket 20, a pair of spaced parallel extending sockets 22 which are also parallel with the central socket, and a pair of laterally extending sockets 24, one at each of the opposite ends of the connector. The central tubular socket is alined with an opening 26 formed in the vertical wall 16. The front and rear connectors are identical and are formed of plastic material from the same die mold and when assembling the parts one connector 12 is positioned so that the tubular sockets 20 and 22 face forwardly while the rear connector 14 is positioned so that the tubular sockets 20 and 22 face rearwardly.

A hollow tubular connector rod 28 is centrally positioned with the opposite ends of said connector rod secured in the central sockets 20 through the openings 26 to secure the front and rear connectors in spaced relation. Secured within the spaced forwardly extending sockets 22 is a pair of spaced hollow tubular rods 30. Secured within the spaced rearwardly extending sockets 22 are spaced hollow tubular rods 32 which are preferably longer than the rods 30. A pair of spaced tubular rods 34 are secured to the laterally facing sockets 24 on each side of the connectors to form the wings of the framework. The hollow tubular rods herein referred to are commercial products and are substantially rigid but have a degree of flexibility and are formed of a plastic material. The rods 34 forming the wings are normally straight but when the kite is assembled they become bowed due to the fact that their outer ends are connected by relatively short connectors generally indicated at 36.

To secure the cover, presently to be described, to the framework there is a plurality of cover connectors generally indicated at 38 which are molded of plastic. Each cover connector comprises a short stem 40 with a disk 42 integrally formed thereon intermediate the ends of the stem. The diameter of the stem is such that it can be inserted in the tubular ends of the rods 30, 32 and 34 and will be frictionally held therein, with the disk 42 adjacent the ends of the rods and a portion 41 of each stem extending outwardly thereof. To secure the covering to the framework the stem 40 of the cover connectors is passed through the respective openings in the covering until the disk 42 abuts the covering. The ends of the covering are bent upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1, and the stems 40 are inserted into the ends of the rods 30, 32 and 34 to hold the cover to the framework. The disk 42 will extend outwardly of the folded covering and will securely retain the ends of the covering against detachment from the framework.

The covering for the kite is preferably a polyethylene material, very light and very flexible and in general configuration is cross-shaped, as best shown in a flat plan view in FIG. 2 in the form in which it is cut to form the covering generally indicated at for the framework. The forwardly extending portion 52 of the covering is provided with spaced openings 54 outwardly of the fold line 55, which openings fit on the stems 40 inserted in the outer ends of the rods 30. The covering has a tail portion 56 with spaced openings 58 outwardly of the fold line 60, which openings are inserted in the same manner on the cover connectors 38 connected to rods 32. The outer ends of the wing portions 62 of the covering are likewise provided with spaced openings 64 outwardly of the fold lines 66 which fit on the stem of the cover connectors connected to the outer ends of the rods 34. The wing ends 62 of the covering each have an arcuate-shaped cutout 68.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the connectors 36 for the outer ends of the wing rods 34 includes a short strip 46 which has openings 48 at its opposite ends to engage the portions 41 of the stems 40 of the cover connectors 38, or the short strip 46 may be formed integrally with one of the cover connectors 38 and connected to the portion 41 of the other cover connector through opening 48.

When the connectors 36 connect the outer ends of the wing rods 34, the wing rods bow or bend to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the narrowest span between the rods 34 forming the wings is adjacent the outer ends of the wings. Thus, when the covering is applied, the wing portions 62 of the covering has a greater width than the distance between the spaced rods 34 so that when the kite is in flight the covering billows upwardly, as indicated at 70 in FIG. 1, to form pockets 72 in the underside of the wings. When the pockets are formed the opposite ends of the wings are open as at 74 so that the air which passes under the wings and into the pockets formed by the wings passes out laterally of the wings. It should be noted that due to the arcuateshaped cutout 68, the outer edge 75 of the billowed wing is inwardly of the extreme outer edge of the wing,

thus, in addition to the air passing out laterally of the wing it simultaneously passes upwardly adjacent the outer edge of the wing. The wings 62 of the covering are provided with spaced tabs 63 which may be folded over the wing rods 34 and secured by an adhesive tape.

In assembling the framework and before putting the connectors 12 and 14 on the central rod 28, a plastic plate or clip 76 having an opening 77 is slipped on to said rod and is frictionally held in place thereon, with the opposite tapering end of said clip provided with an opening 78. After the covering is applied to the framework the slot 80 in the covering permits the clip 76 to extend through the slot so that a cord can be attached to the opening 78, with the opposite end of the cord being held by the child when flying the kite.

The aforedescribed kite is made of relatively few parts and is a knockdown kite which can be readily and easily assembled, and when shipped in disassembled or knockdown condition occupies very little space. The kite may likewise be readily disassembled when desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A knockdown kite comprising a framework which forms a wing framework, a forward and rearward framework extending forwardly and rearwardly respectively of said wing framework, said framework comprising a front connector and a rear connector, said front connector having spaced forwardly facing sockets and laterally facing sockets, said rear connector having spaced rearwardly facing sockets and laterally facing sockets, a rod connecting said front and rear connectors in spaced relation, a pair of spaced rods secured in said forward facing sockets and forming the forward framework and a pair of spaced rods secured in said rearward facing sockets and forming the rearward framework and laterally extending rods secured in said laterally facing sockets and forming the oppositely extending wings of said wing framework, said rods and connectors being detachably secured and when secured forming the framework of said kite, a covering .secured to the free ends of said rods, said covering being of a flexible material and having a width between the laterally extending rods so that the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside of said wing coverings while the kite is in flight.

2. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the framework is of a generally cross-shaped configuration in plan.

3. A kite as set forth in claim 2 in which the covering is of a generally cross-shaped configuration and in which when the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside the outer free ends of said wing coverings are open to permit the air to pass out laterally and upwardly of said billowed end.

4. A kite as set forth in claim 2 in which the covering is of a generally cross-shaped configuration and in which openings are provided in said covering through which cover connectors extend to detachably secure the cover connectors to said rods.

5. A kite as set forth in claim 4 in which the rods are hollow tubular rods and in which the cover connectors have a stem which is inserted in said rod and is frictionally held therein.

6. A kite as set forth in claim 4 in which the covering at the wing portion has an arcuate-shaped cutout at the end thereof.

7. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which cover connectors are detachably secured to the ends of said rods for connecting the covering material to said rods.

8. A kite as set forth in claim 7 in which the rods are hollow tubular members and in which the cover connectors have stems which are received in the free ends of said hollow tubular members and in which the cover connectors each have a disk which abuts against the covering to detachably hold the covering to said rods.

9. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the rods are straight and in which the laterally extending rods forming the wings are connected at their outer ends to bend said rods towards each other so that the width between the rods forming the wings is narrowest adjacent the outer ends.

10. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer ends of the laterally extending wing rods are connected so that the width adjacent the ends of the wings is narrower than the distance between the spaced front and rear connectors. 

1. A knockdown kite comprising a framework which forms a wing framework, a forward and rearward framework extending forwardly and rearwardly respectively of said wing framework, said framework comprising a front connector and a rear connector, said front connector having spaced forwardly facing sockets and laterally facing sockets, said rear connector having spaced rearwardly facing sockets and laterally facing sockets, a rod connecting said front and rear connectors in spaced relation, a pair of spaced rods secured in said forward facing sockets and forming the forward framework and a pair of spaced rods secured in said rearward facing sockets and forming the rearward framework and laterally extending rods secured in said laterally facing sockets and forming the oppositely extending wings of said wing framework, said rods and connectors being detachably secured and when secured forming the framework of said kite, a covering secured to the free ends of said rods, said covering being of a flexible material and having a width between the laterally extending rods so that the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside of said wing coverings while the kite is in flight.
 2. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the framework is of a generally cross-shaped configuration in plan.
 3. A kite as set forth in claim 2 in which the covering is of a generally cross-shaped configuration and in which when the wing coverings billow upwardly and form pockets in the underside the outer free ends of said wing coverings are open to permit the air to pass out laterally and upwardly of said billowed end.
 4. A kite as set forth in claim 2 in which the covering is of a generally cross-shaped configuration and in which openings are provided in said covering through which cover connectors extend to detachably secure the cover connectors to said rods.
 5. A kite as set forth in claim 4 in which the rods are hollow tubular rods and in which the cover connectors have a stem which is inserted in said rod and is frictionally held therein.
 6. A kite as set forth in claim 4 in which the covering at the wing portion has an arcuate-shaped cutout at the end thereof.
 7. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which cover connectors are detachably secured to the ends of said rods for connecting the covering material to said rods.
 8. A kite as set forth in claim 7 in which the rods are hollow tubular members and in which the cover connectors have stems which are received in the free ends of said hollow tubular members and in which the cover connectors each have a disk which abuts against the covering to detachably hold the covering to said rods.
 9. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the rods are straight and in which the laterally extending rods forming the wings are connected at their outer ends to bend said rods towards each other so that the width between the rods forming the wings is narrowest adjacent the outer ends.
 10. A kite as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer ends of the laterally extending wing rods are connected so that the width adjacent the ends of the wings is narrower than the distance between the spaced front and rear connectors. 